Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"(updated with more info)

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Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"

Hmmmm. Interesting. I'll buy that he misses him off the court, but I don't think DC's game did all that much for Roy on the court. It's not as if Darren is a superb interior passer.

Getting paid millions of dollars does not mean a person is less prone to basic human emotions. For me, the money involved is largely irrelevant. It's about commitment to team and personal excellence - those are the important reasons why he has to move on.

That said, yes - if missing DC is really effecting his play, he will have to get over it eventually, and I am sure he will. If Hibberts' season ends up being a major disappointment, I doubt that pining for DC will be the main reason.

Last edited by gummy; 11-09-2012 at 06:52 PM.

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Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"

I'm not perfect and neither are you.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned,and come short of the glory of God. kjv
Ephisians 4: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. kjv

Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"

Wasn't it Roy that hinted that Augustin was better than Collison not long ago?

I really thought the comment was an equal opportunity offender - disparaging both Collison and Hill - at the time, because he said something along the lines of "it's good to have a real point guard on the team" or something.

Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"

Why would that be an issue? Having Collison here wouldn't make Hibbert play better, unless you believe he would be able to get him the ball where Hibbert needs it.

Well, there's something to that, even if the source is BS. People generally underestimate how dependent even a good center is on good PG play. Getting the ball to the center in good position is probably one of the hardest things to do, which is why so few really true centers are any good unless they're guys like Akeem or David Robinson or Shaq who can make a lot happen on their own. Roy is... not one of those guys.

Now, I agree that Collison isn't a great entry passer or anything, but he was the best Roy has played with and they'd established some continuity. I see room for upside and some hope in the Roy quote about Augustin that they could improve things as they get more time together. Well, obviously there's room for upside, since things have been downright bad so far. That being said, Augustin's ceiling doesn't seem to be much higher than what Collison was already doing.

So... yeah. I think if we really want to make things work with Roy, we need a guy who's really a top notch PG and not a decent but unspectacular PG.

Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"

One of the evolving stories around the NBA early in the new season has been the struggling Indiana Pacers. Sure, Danny Granger is out, but there is still enough talent on that roster to keep them in the discussion as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams, yet they sit at 3-6 on the season going into tonight’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.

The biggest reason why the Pacers are off to such a slow start might be the sluggish start by All-Star center Roy Hibbert, who inked a huge deal to stay with the team long-term this summer but is averaging just 8.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 39 percent from the field. Last season Hibbert averaged career-bests of 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds on 50 percent shooting, and this year’s numbers more closely reflect his rookie season stats.

One source with knowledge of the situation told HOOPSWORLD recently that Hibbert’s slow start is not a big surprise, as former Pacers point guard Darren Collison had a lot to do with Hibbert’s success last season, and Collison is now playing for the Mavericks following an offseason trade.

“Darren was my good friend,” Hibbert tells HOOPSWORLD. “We talked, sat together on the plane, used to go have dinner on the road, lunch, always watching film together, just talking it through. I’d be frustrated at him at times and he’d be frustrated with me, but we’d talk it through. I used to get a lot of open layups, just him throwing the ball to me and the give-n-go cut. That’s something he’d get once or twice a game, but things change and obviously you have to adjust.”

“Roy was my guy, he was my best friend,” acknowledges Collison. “We had dreams of playing in Indiana for a long time and really trying to build that franchise into something special and we did the last two years. It’s a memory that I won’t ever forget, especially playing with Roy.”

The reality, of course, is that the modern NBA is a league of change. Few players have the luxury of spending their entire careers with the same teams, let alone the same teammates. Collison is confident that Hibbert will figure it out.

“It’s tough on him, he’s going through his struggles, but Roy is an All-Star player,” says Collison. “Every player struggles, but he’s a guy who can get his way throughout the season and make something happen for himself.”

“Yeah, we’re trying to figure things out,” agrees Hibbert. “I’m trying to figure things out as well. I’m not playing at the best of my ability, but I’m not going to get too down on myself right now, I just got to work through it. Just putting in a little more work than I have been, I mean, then I normally would in practice, just watch more film. I think I just need to relax a little bit and take my time when I’m out there on the court.”

At the same time, Hibbert is guarding against his own tendency to put too much pressure on himself.

“I’ve been one to over think some things, and I’ve been one to get down on myself to the point of depression before, but I’m not like that now,” says Hibbert. “I know, as a player, that I’m going to have my ups and downs. You always, at some point, have bad stretches during the season. It’s unfortunate that I’m in one right now, but hopefully I can get out of it and help my team win.”

Still, one thing that isn’t easily replaced is great chemistry, which Collison says is one of the most precious commodities.

“It’s extremely important; chemistry is probably one of the biggest things in the NBA,” says Collison, who returns to Indiana to start against his former team and his best friend tonight. “It’s actually underrated in the NBA, but if you look at the teams that win, they have chemistry not only on the court but off the court.”

As hard as it was for Hibbert to watch his friend leave, he also appreciates the opportunity the Mavericks were set to give Collison.

“The situation was bittersweet,” admits Hibbert. “I wanted him around, but I know he’s a starting caliber point guard so he has a chance to really get some minutes. I really want what’s best for him and his family, but at the same time I lost a friend. I just really hope he finds a home with a team that really appreciates him. I’m not saying we didn’t appreciate him, but I think [Rick] Carlisle cut out a real good deal for himself in Dallas.”

As for Hibbert and the Pacers, there is a very real sense of urgency to right the ship and start getting some wins.

“We don’t want to say, ‘it’s only a few games in, it’s early, it’s early,’ then that kind of steamrolls. We want to fix the problem now and try not to lose anymore games.”

As fate would have it, for the Pacers to end their current two-game losing streak they will have to do it by beating their former floor leader… and Roy Hibbert’s best friend.

The loss of Collison hurts more because his replacement is faaaar from living up to his hype and potential than anything else...

And I am glad to hear straight from Roy that he isn't getting too down on himself... Because, as someone that has battled depression myself, I know you have to attack the bad thoughts with common sense thinking... And he is right... Players go through tough stretches at times... Roy is just hitting it out of the gates... I've still got hope that he'll swing back around...

Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"(updated with more info)

I still don't see what this has to do with Roy's struggles. Roy plays a lot better with George Hill, and like Shade said, hinted that DJ was better than Collison. Maybe he's affected by not having Darren around, but that's probably #15 on Roy's mental list.

Re: Bill Ingram "part of Roy's issues is the absence of Darren Collison"(updated with more info)

Eh, I'm not so sure. Hill is a better entry passer but I think that he benefited Granger and George a lot more than Hibbert and Hill. DC, on the other hand, seemed to have better chemistry with Roy and David than our wings.